Wash one another's feet

Good reminder for me this morning to be continually pursuing humility:

"If I then, your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you." John 13:14-15

Jesus calls me to wash the feet of those around me. What does that mean for me? I think often it is the postition of my heart. It is the humble heart that is wiling to lay down position, preferences, and desires in order to serve. It is not thinking too highly of myself or thinking I deserve anything, which would hinder service to others. It's the proud heart that would never seek to or be willing to wash another's feet. Far too often, this is the state of my heart. For me, in order to obey my Lord, I simply must pursue humility, as a wife and mom, two of my highest priorities. And it's in the simple things that I wash the feet of my husband and children; joyfully cleaning up the dishes so Dave can rest or play with the girls, even though it's been a hard day for me. It's letting Dave play golf, even though I'd rather have him here to help or so that I can get a break. It's sitting down with Mckenna to read to her, when I would rather "get something done" that has been on my list for a few days. It's all those times when I can choose to lay down my life for my family and those around me, not expecting anything in return and remembering that it is ultimately my Savior I am serving. I like what Henry Matthew says of these verses:

"We must learn of our Master to be lowly in heart, and walk with all lowliness; we must think meanly of ourselves and respectfully of our brethren, and deem nothing below us but sin; we must say of that which seems mean, but has a tendency to the glory of God and our brethren's good, as David (2 Sam. vi. 22), If this be to be vile, I will be yet more vile. Christ had often taught his disciples humility, and they had forgotten the lesson; but now he teaches them in such a way as surely they could never forget... A condescension to be serviceable. To wash one another's feet is to stoop to the meanest offices of love, for the real good and benefit one of another, as blessed Paul, who, though free from all, made himself servant of all; and the blessed Jesus, who came not to be ministered unto, but to minister. We must not grudge to take care and pains, and to spend time, and to diminish ourselves for the good of those to whom we are not under any particular obligations, even of our inferiors, and such as are not in a capacity of making us any requital."